Kobe University

About 

Kobe University (Kobe) is a leading national research university located in Kobe, Japan. Established in 1902, it is one of Japan’s oldest and most respected institutions of higher education. With over 16,000 students and a strong network of international partnerships, Kobe promotes an open and interdisciplinary academic environment that integrates education, research, and innovation.

The university is composed of 11 faculties and 15 graduate schools, covering disciplines from law, economics, and business administration to medicine, engineering, and maritime sciences. Kobe is particularly renowned for its focus on global engagement, with numerous exchange agreements and English-taught programs designed to foster cultural and intellectual diversity.

A defining feature of Kobe’s approach is its emphasis on connecting academic research with real-world challenges. Students are encouraged to engage in collaborative research and community-oriented projects, reflecting the university’s vision to “create knowledge, foster innovation, and contribute to society.”

Consult Kobe on QS World Rankings to learn more about their current world ranking and academic reputation in different subject areas.

Location

Kobe is spread across multiple campuses situated in the scenic port city of Kobe, Japan. The city is the 5^th largest in Japan and part of the Hyogo Prefecture. The main Rokkodai Campus, located on the slopes of Mount Rokko, houses most of the university’s faculties and administrative offices, offering panoramic views of the city and Osaka Bay. Other campuses include the Fukae Campus (Faculty of Maritime Sciences), the Myodani Campus (Faculty of Health Sciences), and the Kusunoki Campus (Faculty of Medicine). A detailed university map and access guide are available here.

All campuses are conveniently connected by public transportation, including the Kobe City Subway, JR (Japan Railways) lines, and local bus routes. The transport network is efficient and safe, making it easy for students to move between campuses or explore the wider Kansai region. For shorter distances, cycling and walking are also popular options as Kobe’s layout and clean streets make commuting simple and pleasant.

Each campus is home to one or more faculties and offers a range of student facilities such as libraries, cafeterias, study lounges, and international student centers. The Rokkodai area provides numerous spaces for study and social interaction, surrounded by nature and just minutes away from the city’s cultural attractions.

Level of competitiveness

This exchange is only open to students in the School of Law:  

• Law students: Competitive ** 

^{The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.}

Language of Instruction

At Kobe, many courses for exchange students are offered in English (where this is the language of instruction and examination), while the majority of main degree programmes are conducted in Japanese. Exchange students are therefore encouraged to take advantage of the university’s Japanese language learning opportunities, which are designed to help them integrate both academically and socially during their stay in Japan.

There is no official language requirement however students are expected to have sufficient English and/or Japanese abilities to follow the courses depending on their selections.

The Kobe University Global Education Center (GEC) offers several types of Japanese language courses open to international students of all proficiency levels through the GEC Japanese Learning Program. These are divided into two main categories available to exchange students: Integrated Japanese Language Classes and an Intensive Japanese Language Course. 

More information about these programs is available on the Kobe University Global Education Center website and in the Japanese Language Program Guide (PDF). 

Academic Calendar

The academic year at Kobe University is divided into two semesters:

• Fall semester: Early October – mid/late January. Examination Period: Late January – mid-February
• Spring semester: Early/mid-April – mid-July. Examination Period: Mid-July – early August 

An orientation programme is held in late September for the fall semester and early April for the spring semester to help new international and exchange students settle into life at Kobe. More information about the orientation for international students is available here.

Courses

Queen Mary students on exchange at Kobe study in the Faculty of Law. 

Kobe offers a broad selection of courses taught in both English and Japanese across its undergraduate and graduate faculties. Students submit a pre-registration sheet before enrolment which is verified by the Academic Affairs Section. The official registration sheet submission opens only after enrolment.

Exchange students should note that Master’s-level students cannot register for undergraduate courses, and undergraduate students cannot register for Master’s-level courses. In addition, auditing courses without permission is not permitted.

Courses available to exchange students are divided into the following categories:

• Courses taught in English – Faculty/Graduate School of Law: These courses are fully open to exchange students, who may register without prior permission. The syllabus and list of law courses can be found on the Faculty of Law English Course Catalogue.
• Courses taught in English and Japanese – All Faculties/Graduate Schools: Exchange students can take courses taught in either English or Japanese across the university. However, they are required to confirm with their Academic Affairs Section during pre-registration whether the selected courses are open to exchange students. After confirmation, students must obtain approval from the lecturers individually during the first class session in the case of:
  • Courses taught in Japanese by the Faculty/Graduate School of Law and
  • Courses taught in English or Japanese by other Faculties/Graduate Schools

Kobe also offers what are known as intensive courses that run every other week and condense 3-4 classes of intensive lessons. These tend to be worth 1 local credit and run over 1 semester; please consult the website for more information. Information on all courses open to exchange students is available through the Kobe University Campus Syllabus Search System. 

Restrictions

Exchange students are not permitted to register for or audit the following types of courses:

• All courses within Professional Degree Programs (専門職学位)
• Seminar (演習) courses offered by any faculty or graduate school, except those within the Japanese Language Program.

Credits

Students must enrol on a full courseload equivalent to 60 Queen Mary credits for the semester/120 for a full academic year. At Kobe, this is equivalent to 10 lesson hours (equivalent of five to six courses) per week under Japanese immigration regulations. This typically amounts to five or six courses per semester.

Courses at Kobe University are offered by semester, each comprising 16 weeks including the final examination. Each class period lasts 90 minutes (counted as 120 minutes including study time).

Credit allocation is determined as follows: one course credit is awarded for classes held one period per week, and two course credits are awarded for classes held two periods per week. Each course credit corresponds to approximately 45 hours of total study, including preparation and review outside of class. Courses do not include seminars unless otherwise specified.

Grading

Kobe uses a five-level grading system to evaluate academic performance. Grades are assigned as follows:

• S (90–100%) for excellent performance
• A (80–89%) for very good performance
• B (70–79%) for good performance
• C (60–69%) for satisfactory performance
• F (below 59%) for failure 

A minimum grade of C is required in order to receive credit for a course. 

Official transcripts, listing all completed courses, grades, and credits earned, are issued by Kobe University at the end of each semester. There is also the possibility to obtain a Certificate of Academic Records from automatic machines located in designated campus zones. 

Find out more about Queen Mary’s credit transfer and grade conversion process. 

Queen Mary student feedback  

Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:

• Shania’s experience at Kobe

Instagram takeovers:

• Japan takeover by Karolina
• Japan takeover by Lia (different university and city but same country)

Accommodation

Housing for international students at Kobe is divided into university dormitories and private rentals. Exchange students are given priority for room allocations in the university dormitories, which are single rooms only. No other room types are available for selection. Kobe is unable to provide full rooms in the Kobe University dormitories for all international students.

Dormitories

Kobe University offers six off-campus residential facilities (dormitories) for international students, providing convenient access to academic buildings and campus facilities. Rooms are typically small single rooms with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Exchange students are prioritised for these rooms, but availability is limited, so early application is recommended. For more information on university dormitories, see the Kobe University Residence page. There is also one Affiliated International Dormitory which is also located off campus.

Private Housing

Students may also choose to live in private housing off-campus. This option generally provides greater choice over location and room size, but students are responsible for finding a place and signing a rental contract independently. Many students use real estate websites, social networks, or word-of-mouth to locate suitable housing. Detailed guidance on private housing options is available on the Kobe University Private Housing page. In Japan, a guarantor is usually required when booking privately. While Kobe University does not serve as an institutional guarantor for housing lease agreements, there are private guarantor companies specified by the real estate agencies.

Exchange students are encouraged to start their housing search early and consider both on-campus and off-campus options to secure suitable accommodation before arrival.

Queen Mary students who intend to look for private accommodation are advised to follow the partner’s guidance as soon as possible to begin their accommodation search safely. Guidance about searching for private accommodation safely is also available on the QMplus resource page, “Pre-departure” tab from early spring.

Cost of living

Kobe provides information on the cost of living as a student here. Please note that Kobe requires its students to have three additional insurance policies in addition to the National Health Insurance. The Gakkensai, Inbound Futai Gakusou and Inbound Medical Assistance Service will require additional fees.

You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Kobe here. There is also general information about living costs in Japan here.

Bear in mind that living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.

Support services

Full information about student support at Kobe is available here. Details about all the available student services can be found in Kobe's 2025/26 exchange guidebook.

Orientation

Orientation is organised by the Global Education Center which is in charge of incoming exchanges, and students should expect to receive information on the orientation programme during the pre-departure phase.

Advisory and Counselling Services

The Global Education Center offers counselling for international students on a wide range of issues related to both academic life and daily life in Japan. This includes support for academic challenges, intercultural or interpersonal concerns, harassment cases, mental and physical health issues, financial problems, and family matters. Two full-time faculty members are available for consultation, and most departments at Kobe also provide faculty and staff advisors for international students. Counselling is confidential, and sessions can be scheduled in person or via telephone or correspondence. More information on advising and counselling is available here. 

Medical and Mental Health Services

The Medical Center for Student Health provides emergency first aid, annual health check-ups, and consultations regarding physical and mental health. Services are available to all students and staff of Kobe University. Centres are located at Rokkodai Campus, Fukae Campus, and Kusunoki Campus, with the Physical and Mental Health Consultation Office available at Myodani Campus. Consultation services are confidential, and students can phone to schedule appointments. More information on the Medical Center is available here.

Support for Students with Disabilities

Kobe offers support for students with disabilities through the Student Affairs Department and each faculty, school, and graduate school. Services cover entrance examinations, admission, and post-admission support. Efforts include providing accessible classrooms, appropriate seating, in-class assistance, and on-campus facilities such as parking spaces. Students seeking learning support must submit the “Application form for disability support” to the Academic Affairs Section of their affiliated faculty or school. Consult Kobe's main student support webpage for information on support available for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  

Activities and Societies

Kobe fully supports student participation in extracurricular activities as part of a well-rounded student experience. The clubs, circles, and societies at Kobe are established and run independently by students. Starting a new club, joining an existing one, and participating in activities is entirely voluntary. These groups also provide opportunities to improve teamwork, broaden students' horizons, and have fun. Joining these groups provides an opportunity to develop new skills, make friends, deepen exchange students' understanding of Japanese language and culture, and experience another side of student life in Japan. A detailed list of available clubs can be consulted here.

Official Clubs, Circles, Sports

Kobe has a wide variety of cultural, sports, and supporting groups, as well as study and volunteer groups. Clubs authorised by the university are open to all students, while some may be specific to certain faculties or graduate schools. There is a cultural difference between 'clubs' and 'circles' in Japan. Clubs (mainly sports related ones) are typically for students committed to a long-term role which may require substantial out-of-class time to be put into the club. Exchange students can ask to join clubs by contacting their emails/socials but it is not guaranteed. Circles are a social and less intense version of clubs, in which anyone can join. Students interested in joining a club or circle should contact the group directly. 

Examples of cultural and study groups include: Society for the Study of Children's Culture, Drama Society, Glee Club, Apollon Chorus, Photography Club, Noh Drama Club, E.S.S. (English Studying Society), Tea Ceremony and Flower Arrangement Club, Literature Society, Manga Society, Symphony Orchestra, Rokko Festival Committee, and KU PRESS.

Examples of sports groups include: Track and Field, Swimming, Baseball, Soft Baseball, Tennis, Soft Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Handball, Rugby, Football (Soccer), Hockey, Men’s and Women’s Volleyball, Table Tennis, Badminton, Kendo, Japanese Archery, Judo, Karate. 

Supporting and Volunteer groups

• Truss is a group that offers support to international students and manages international exchange activities.
• KOKORO-Net in Kobe – A volunteer group providing social and cultural experiences for international students, researchers, and their families.
• Mitsui Volunteer Network Center provides one-on-one support to international students through a volunteer network of present and former Mitsui Group employees. 

Social Media

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Resources

• Exchanges at Kobe main landing page – information about courses, accommodation and testimonials
• Campus Life – information about the city, student life, support and the academic calendar
• Useful information from former exchange students at Kobe – student feedback provided at the end of the exchange, made available by Kobe 
• Faculty of Law webpage – information about available Law courses and term times